ye uruj-e-daulat-e-qaisari ye shikoh-e-taj-e-sikandari
ki yahan to khun-e-gharib se hai tapish mein nabz-e-tawangari

wahi khwajgi wahi khusrawi wahi rang-o-nasl ki bartari
yahi hai tamaddun-e-maghribi koi mujh se sun le khari khari

jo hai tarz-e-baada-kashan yahi jo hai mai-kade ka saman yahi
khum-o-shisha mein mai-e-lala-gun yunhi sad rahegi dhari dhari

ye zamana kaisa badal gaya na wo walwale na wo hausle
kisi waqt the jo sanam-shikan wo hain aaj waqf-e-sanam-giri

mere dil pe barq si gir padi ye kaha jo murgh-e-asir ne
mere aashiyane ki shakh bhi kabhi thi chaman mein hari-bhari

wahi aah asl mein aah hai wahi nala asl mein nala hai
ki idhar jo dil se nikal pade to udhar falak mein ho tharthari

ye sitam-zarifi-e-ahd-e-nau bhi hai 'najmi' kitni ajib si
ki jo gumrahi mein hai mubtala hai usi ko dawa-e-rahbari